Codex Micro
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending
.mdto the page URL.
Codex Micro is a limited-run collaboration between Codex and Work Louder. It works with the ChatGPT desktop app, giving you a quick way to check on chats, jump between them, use voice input, and trigger common actions or skills without leaving the keyboard.
<Illustration description="Interactive Codex Micro keyboard with illuminated Agent Keys, customizable Command Keys, a dial, and an analog stick">
<CodexMicroKeyboardIllustration
ariaLabel="Interactive Codex Micro keyboard with illuminated Agent Keys, customizable Command Keys, a dial, and an analog stick"
/>
</Illustration>
Set up Codex Micro
- Open the ChatGPT desktop app.
- Press the rear button once to turn on Codex Micro.
- Connect it with a USB-C cable or pair it with Bluetooth, then follow the setup that appears when ChatGPT detects it.
- On macOS, allow Input Monitoring when prompted so ChatGPT can respond to key presses.
- Open Settings > Codex Micro to choose what the Agent Keys follow or trigger, customize the Command Keys, analog stick, and dial, and adjust lighting and voice controls.
By default, press and hold the dial for a short while to open these settings. You can also select the Micro icon beside your account name at the bottom of ChatGPT. A custom dial assignment can replace the press-and-hold shortcut.
The device settings remain available after ChatGPT detects a supported Micro for the first time. Work Louder Input isn't required for the ChatGPT integration. Use it to customize controls for other apps or configure more layers.
Pair with Bluetooth
Codex Micro provides three Bluetooth channels.
- Press the rear button once to turn on the Micro.
- Press and hold the touch control on the bottom-left edge for three seconds. The lighting under the Micro turns blue when Bluetooth mode is active.
- Tap the touch control to choose Bluetooth channel 1, 2, or 3. A fast-flashing channel light means the Micro is ready to pair.
- Open your computer's Bluetooth settings and connect to the Micro when it appears.
- Wait for the channel light to turn solid, which means pairing is complete.
The connection selector closes after five seconds without input. To switch to another paired channel, open the selector again, choose the channel, and wait for it to close. To pair that channel again, press and hold the touch control for three seconds until its light begins flashing.
To use USB-C instead, open the connection selector and tap the touch control until the lighting under the Micro turns white. Connecting a USB-C cable while the Micro is still in Bluetooth mode charges it but doesn't switch it to the wired connection.
For hardware diagrams, see the Work Louder Codex Micro setup guide.
Read and switch chats with Agent Keys
Each of the six frosted Agent Keys can follow a chat and light up to show its current status. Press an Agent Key once to switch to that chat without bringing ChatGPT forward. Press it twice within 350 milliseconds to switch chats and bring the ChatGPT window forward. To focus ChatGPT with the first press, turn on Focus ChatGPT with a single tap in the device settings.
| Light | Status | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| White | Idle | The chat is idle. |
| Blue | Thinking | ChatGPT is working. |
| Green | Complete | The chat completed with an unread update. |
| Amber | Requires input | ChatGPT needs your approval or response. |
| Red | Error | Something went wrong. |
| Off | No assigned chat | The key doesn't follow a chat. |
The selected chat's key pulses with its status light.
Out of the box, the keys follow your six most recently updated chats, whether or not they're pinned. Change Agent keys in the device settings to use a different arrangement:
- Most recent chats: Follow the six most recently updated chats, pinned or unpinned.
- Pinned chats: Follow the first six chats in Pinned.
- Priority chats: Put chats waiting for input, unread chats, and active chats first.
- Custom assignments: Assign a chat, shortcut, physical key action, or enabled skill to each Agent Key. Press an unassigned Agent Key to open a new chat. When you start the chat, ChatGPT assigns it to that key.
The status colors stay the same for keys that follow chats. With Custom assignments, an Agent Key can trigger an action instead.
Use and customize Command Keys
Codex Micro comes with six actions in its default layout:
| Key | Default action |
|---|---|
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="FAST" label="Fast" /> | Turn Fast mode on or off. |
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="APPR" label="Approve" /> | Approve the current request. |
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="REJ" label="Decline" /> | Decline the current request. |
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="SPLIT" label="Fork" /> | Continue the current chat in a new chat. |
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="MIC" label="Mic" /> | Start push-to-talk. |
| <CodexMicroTableKeycap keycapId="CODEX" label="Codex" /> | Send the message in the composer. |
The Mic key uses your computer's microphone. Codex Micro doesn't have a microphone of its own. By default, it uses Push to talk: hold the key while you speak, then release it to stop. For hands-free recording, press it twice within 350 milliseconds to keep recording. Press it again to stop.
A sea-green light moves around the keyboard while you record. It changes to a moving white light while ChatGPT processes your speech, then turns solid white when the prompt is ready. Press the Codex key to send it.
If Voice Chat is available under Microphone key, choose it to use the Mic key to start a Voice Chat or toggle your microphone; press and hold it to end the chat. Turn on Use separate microphone keys to map the two switches under the wide Mic key independently.
In the device settings, select a Command Key in the Layout preview, then choose its keycap and action. You can open the browser or terminal, manage chats, review changes, run Git and pull request actions, attach files or photos, open plugins or scheduled tasks, change reasoning effort, run an enabled skill, or assign another shortcut. If you choose a keycap that's already used somewhere else, ChatGPT swaps the two instead of using one keycap twice.
After you remap a key, swap the physical keycap to match its new action. Select Reset layout to restore the default Command Key and analog stick assignments without changing the Agent Key mode or custom chat assignments.
Use the analog stick and dial
The analog stick moves freely in any direction. When you push it far enough from the center, ChatGPT turns the movement into one of four directional actions. Codex Micro starts with the mappings shown here.
Choose any available ChatGPT desktop command or enabled skill for each direction in the device settings.
| Direction | Default action |
|---|---|
| Up | Turn Plan mode on or off. |
| Right | Go forward in app history. |
| Down | Show or hide the sidebar. |
| Left | Go back in app history. |
The dial uses Composer navigation by default. Turn it to move through composer controls and options, then press it to open or select the focused control. When a composer control or menu is open, the Agent Key immediately to the right of the dial lights red. Press that key to cancel.
Choose one of four dial modes in the device settings:
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Composer navigation | Move through composer controls and select the focused control. |
| Reasoning only | Adjust reasoning effort and open its slider or advanced options. |
| Conversation scrolling | Scroll the active chat; press the dial to jump to the latest message. |
| Custom assignments | Assign an action or skill to the left turn, right turn, press, and long press. |
Pressing and holding the dial opens the device settings in every mode except Custom assignments, where it runs the action assigned to the long press.
Adjust lighting
{/* vale Microsoft.Auto = NO */}
In the device settings, adjust Brightness and choose an Auto-dim interval from 30 seconds to one hour, or turn automatic dimming off. The lights come back on when you use the Micro or an Agent Key changes status. By default, the lights turn off after three minutes.
{/* vale Microsoft.Auto = YES */}
When the Micro reports its battery status, you can see it in the device settings and beside the Micro icon in the sidebar.
Add more layers
ChatGPT uses layer 1. Use Work Louder Input to configure up to five more layers with shortcuts and actions for other apps.
Troubleshoot Codex Micro
Fix Input Monitoring on macOS
If the device settings show that Input Monitoring isn't set up, select Open System Settings, then follow these steps:
- Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring.
- Turn on access for ChatGPT if it's already listed. If it's missing, drag ChatGPT from Applications into the list, or select Add (+) and choose ChatGPT.
- Quit and reopen ChatGPT, then confirm it detects the Micro on layer 1.
For more about this macOS permission, see Apple's Input Monitoring guide.
Fix connection interference
ChatGPT retries automatically when it detects a Micro but can't connect or loses communication. If the problem continues, reconnect the Micro and check whether a keyboard utility or security tool blocks access to it.
{/* vale Vale.Spelling = NO */}
On macOS, Work Louder notes that Karabiner and Logitech Options+ can interfere with Micro communication when those apps have Input Monitoring permission. To test for interference, quit the keyboard utility or temporarily turn off its Input Monitoring access, then reconnect the Micro. If your organization manages your computer, ask your IT administrator to check the device rules.
{/* vale Vale.Spelling = YES */}
Get more Work Louder help
For help with Bluetooth, cables, power, or resetting the keyboard, see the Work Louder Codex Micro setup guide. For direct support, email hello@worklouder.cc.
Get a compatible Micro
Check Codex Micro availability through OpenAI Supply Co. The ChatGPT desktop app also supports Creator Micro 2, available directly from Work Louder.